Combined alarm and signal for wet-pipe sprinkler systems.



C. E. POTTER.

. COMBINED ALARM AND SIGNAL FOR WET PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FI L ED mmso, 1915.

1,182,205. Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

c. E. POTTER.

COMBINED ALARM AND SIGNAL FOR WET PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTE MS.

APPLICATION FILED Jun-30, I915- 1,182,205. v v Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I .iPafier GHARLESE. POTTER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINED ALARM AND SIGNAL FOR WET-PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

Application filed January 30, 1915. Serial No. 5,231.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. POTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Alarms and Signals for W'et-Pipe Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a fu]l, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a device embodying my invention, applied for use in connection with a sprinkler system. Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the combined alarm and signal with the housing which incloses the same in section and partially broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing a spring-driven train of gearing and certain levers forming a part of my improved device. Fig. 1 is a detail section showing the diaphragm which is acted upon by the waterpressure in the system. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the diaphragm and a segmental bearing ring which is positioned thereupon. Fig. 6 is an elevational view of parts of the actuatingmechanism of my improved device. Fig. 7 is an clevational view of parts of certain of the wheels in the spring-driven train of gearing forming a part of my improved device.

My invention relates generally to automatic sprinkler and fire alarm systems, and more particularly to a device which will automaticallytransmit to a central station an alarm and signal whenever the equilibrium of the water pressure within the pipes of the system is disturbed by the'opening of one or more of the sprinkler heads resulting from fire or accident and which action necessarily results in a lowering of the pressure in the system.

The particular form of device herein illustrated and described is particularly 1ntended for use in what is commonly known pensive apparatus which may be -conven-: ientlv and advantageously connectedto one of the main supply pipes of the system and which device will in the event of the open 111g of one or more adjacent sprinkler heads, transmit to the central station one or more signals which, in addition to giving the alarm, shows the approximate location of the open sprinkler head.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described w th means for automatically transmitting to the central station a'sig'nal to show that. the spring of the clock work or motor formlng a part of the device is fully wound and that the device is properly set for use. i

A further object of my invention is to provide certain details or features of improvement which will tend to increase the general efficiency and serviceability of an automatically released alarm and signal of the type to which my invention relates.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates. one of the risers. of the sprinkler system, 11 one of the lateral distributing pipes, the same carrying the usual automatic sprinkler heads, such as 12. Located in the riser 10 is an ordinary gate valve 13 and immediately above the same is the usual check valve 1 1.

My improved device is connected to the riser 10 at any desired point above the check valve 14, and as shown, the main body portion of said'device is in the form of a plate 15 in which is formed a chamber 16 and connecting this chamber to the riser 10 is a suitable tubular connection 17.

Leading from the upper portion of the chamber 16 through the wall of the plate extended upward as designated by 22 to form a housing over that portion ofthe dia phragm which overlies the chamber 16. Connected to the center of diaphragm is the lower end of a vertically disposed pin 23 which slides freely through the upper portion of housing 22 and formed in said pin immediately above the diaphragm 22 is an annular groove 24.

Positioned on top of the diaphragm 20 and in the chamber within the housing 22 is a bearing ring 25 which is composed of a series of segments. The outer edges of all of these segments are provided with upwardly projecting ribs 26 which occupy corresponding bearings 27 formed in the underside of housing 22, and the inner edges of said segments are provided with ribs 26 which en gage in the annular groove 24.

Formed integral with or fixed to the disk 21 is a pair of upwardly projecting ears 28 and fulcrumed'thereto, preferably by means of a knife-edged bearing 29, is one end of a horizontally disposed lever 30 which overlies the central portion of plate 15. The upper end of pin 23 engages against the under side of this lever 30, adjacent to its fulcrum point. Positioned'on the lever 30 near the end opposite the end which is fulcrumed to the ears 28 is a weight 31 and pivotally connected to this end of said lever, preferably by means of a knife-edged bearing, is the lower end of a short vertically disposed link 32, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a horizontally disposed lever 33 which overlies the lever 30. The end of lever 33 adjacent thepoint of pivotal connection to link 32 is fulcrumed preferably by means ofa knife-edged bearing 34 to a short upright 35, the same being fixed to plate 15. The free end of lever is provided with an upwardly projecting hook 36.

The downward movement of lever 30 is limited by a stop 30 which is seated in and projected upwardly from plate 15.

Fixed to plate 15 to the sides of lovers 30 and 33 is a frame work 37, which carries a clock work or springdriven train of gearing forming a part of my improved device, said frame comprising a pair of side plates which are framed together by suitable cross bars. Journaled in the side plates of this frame is a shaft 38 to which is fixed the inner end of a spiral spring 39, and the outer end of said spring is fixed to a cross piece 40 0f the frame 37. One end of the shaft 38 projects beyond the frame 37 and said projecting end is made non-circular so as to receive the winding key. Fixed on this shaft 38 is a gear wheel 41, the same meshing with a pinion 42 which is loosely mounted on a shaft 43, the ends of the latter beingjournaled in the sides of frame 37. Fixed'to pinion 42 is a ratchet Wheel 44 having a single tooth or shoulder and adapted to engage therewith is a spring-pressed pawl 45, the same being carried by a gear wheel 46 which is fixed on shaft 43. Fixed on shaft 43 adjacent to the gear wheel 46 is a disk 47 in the edge of which is formed a notch 48.

Positioned on lever 33 is an upwardly projecting finger 49 and projecting laterally from the upper end thereof is a pin 50, which is adapted to ride upon the periphery of disk 47 and to drop into the notch 48 therein. Gear wheel 46 mesheswith a pinion 51 that is xed on a shaft 52, the same being journaled in frame 37 and fixed on said last mentioned shaft is a gear wheel 53 which meshes with a pinion 54 on shaft This last mentioned shaft is journaled in frame 37 and carries a gear wheel 56 which meshes with a pinion 57, the latter being fixed on shaft 58 whichis jour naled in frame 37. Fixed on this last mentioned shaft is a cross arm 59 provided with laterally projecting ends 60, the same being adapted to engage the hook 36 on the endof lever 33.

Fixed on shaft 58 is a disk 61 provided with a single tooth or shoulder 62, the same being adapted to engage the laterally bent end 63 of a lever 64 which latter is fulcrumed at an intermediate point to a pin or bracket 65 which is fixed to frame 37. Journaled on a stud 66 which is seated in the rear one of'the plates forming the frame 37 is a semi-circular plate 67 in which is formed an eccentric slot 68 and projecting therethrough is a pin 69 which is carried by lever 64. Formed in said plate 67 is a second eccentric slot 7 O, and projecting therethrough is a pin 71, the same being carried by an arm 72 which is fixed on a shaft 73. This last mentioned shaft is journaled in frame 37 and carries ashort arm 74 from the outer end of which projects a pin 75, the same being adapted to engage on top of lever 33.

Fixed on shaft 38 which is immediately above stud 66 is a disk 76, the same being provided with. a single tooth 77, the same being adapted to engage in'either one of'a pair of notches 78 which latter are formed in disk 67. The disk 76 is so locatedand of such size that its edge is adapted to engage the straight edgesof the disk 67, thus limiting the movement of the latter in both directions, and when shaft 38 carrying disk 76 is rotated, the tooth 77 will engage in notches 78 and rotate disk 67 approxi-' mately a half revolution. Shaft 43 extends a short distance in front of the frame 37 and fixed thereon and insulated therefrom is a disk 79, the same being provided with a series of teeth 80 which are arranged in groups so as to be instrumental in sending a predetermined signal over the circuit in which the device is located, and which signal is registered at a central station. In the present instance I have shown this disk provided with teeth arranged in groups of four,

one and two, and thus this box or station would be known asnumber 412, and in operation would send in a corresponding electric signal.

Fixedv on the frame 37 above shaft 43 is a bracket 81 in which is positioned a set screw 82 and fixed to and insulated from this bracket is a fiat spring 83, the free end of same being provided with a contact point 89 which normally engages the free end of spring 86. Suitable electrical connections 90 lead from the contact plates 85 and 87 to a suitable indicator andrecorder 91 located at a central station, and this circuit being provided with a suitable battery 92.

The operation of the device is as follows: Under normal conditions the pressure of the water in the distril'iuting pipes acting against the underside of diaphragm 20 holds the same at its upward hunt of movement,

and consequently holds pin 23 elevated. The

segmental bearingring 25 is positioned on top of the diaphragm 20 and is instrumental in holding the same in its true position and causing pin to operate in a straight line through. its bearing. Vvithout such bearing ringit has been found that the diaphragm tends to buckle while under pressure and such action affects the movement imparted to pin 23. The pressure of this pin against the underside of lever 30 holds the weighted end thereof at its upper limit of movement and by reason of the connectinglink 32 the free end of lever 33 is held at its upper limit of movement with the hook 36 engaging one of the fingers 60 on cross piece 59. The engagement of the last mentioned parts holds the train of gearing in the housing 37 against movement, it being understood that said train of gearing normally tends to operate by reason of the power stored in spring 39, the same being normally wound.

It will be understood that in'devices of this character, it is desirable that thecentral station be notified that the spring iswound and. that the device is in condition for proper operation and to this end I have provided means for automatically transmitting a single signal to the central station when the spring has been completely wound.

Spring 39 is wound by the applicationof a proper key to the projecting end of shaft 38 and when the winding movement has been completed, disk 76 occupies the position seen in. Fig. 3 with its periphery engaging the upperone of, the straight edges of plate 7 6. Then the last mentioned plate has been moved into this position pin 71 occupies the end of eccentric slot whichis nearest shaft 66 and as this movement takes place shaft 7 3 is rocked, thereby swinging the free end of arm 74 downward and causing pin 7 5 to. bear downward upon lever 33, thereby releasing hook 37 from the engaged finger 60.

While lever 33 is elevated, pin 50 on plate 49 occupies notch 48 in disk 47 and when said lever is depressed by the downward movement of pin 7 5 pin 50 moves to a position below the periphery of disk 47. The train of gearing is now free to operate under the influence of the power stored in spring 39 and shaft 38 is rotated anti-clockwise, thereby imparting movement to disk 67 by the engagement of tooth 7 6 in one of thenotches 78 and likewise rotary movement is imparted to shafts 43, 51, 55 and 58 through the various gears and pinions which are carried by said shafts. As soon as pin 71 moves a short distance through the angularend of slot 70, shaft 7 3 will be rocked to raise pin 75, but lever 33 will be prevented from moving upward by reason of the engagement of pin 50 against the edge of disk 47 until said disk has made a complete revolution. f Thus shaft 43 upon which disk 47 is mounted, makes a complete revolution and the teeth of disk 7 9 engage the contact fingers 84 and 87 in such a manner as to transmit through the circuit a single signal showing that the spring, has been properly wound and that the device is in proper condition for operation. As soon as shaft 43 has completed its single rotation pin 50 will drop into notch 48, thus permitting hook 36 to reengage with one of the fingers 60, thus stopping and holding the tram of gearing against further movement.

It will beunderstood that the free end of lever 33 is elevated by reason of the pres sure of the water in the system against the underside of diaphragm 20 as hereinbefore described. i

In case one or more of the sprinkler heads in that section of the system in which my improved device is located open by reason of heat from an adjacent fire or through accident, the release of water lowers the pressure in thesystem, thereby relieving pressure in diaphragm 20 and the weight on lever 30 will now cause said lever to drop andeonsequently permitting the free end of lever 33 to move'downward. This action disengages hook 36from engaged finger (30, thereby permitting the train of gearing t0 operate under the power stored in spring 39 and as gear wheel 41 carried by shaft 38 revolves motion is transmitted to shaft 43 by means of pinion 42 and said last mentioned shaft will be rotated several times or until shaft. 39 has made approximately a complete turn.

at which time tooth 77 will pass from one notch 7 8 to the other, thereby causing disk 76. to make approximately a half revolution. As shaft 43 is rotated several times the teeth will engage the fingers Stand 87, thereby transmitting through the circuit to the central station repeated signals which indicate the opening of the sprinkler system. As the disk 76 completes its movement from one position to another, the pin 69 carried by lever (34 will move to the angular end of slot 68,

' thereby swinging said lever 64k so that finger 63 is brought into thepath of travel of the single tooth or shoulder 62 on disk 61, and when such engagement takes place the movement of the'train of gearing is stopped.

The circuit in which the device and the indicator at the central station are located is normally closed and as the teeth 80 carried by disk 7 9 pass the contact points 84 and 87, the circuit is broken by the engagement of the first tooth with contact finger 87, which movement raises spring 86 and breaking contact between said spring and contact point 89. Immediately after the tooth passes contact finger 87 the same drops behind the tooth, thereby restoring contact between spring 86 and contact point 89, thus momentarily closing the circuit. Immediately after this action takes place the tooth engages contact finger 84:, thereby raising the same and thefree end of spring 83, which action causes said spring to engage contact screw 82, carried by plate 81, thus momentarily grounding the circuit. After the passage of tooth beyond contact finger St, spring 83 drops and the circuit is momentarily closed. These actions, namely, the breaking, the closing, and the grounding of the circuit, are repeated for each tooth 80 and by reason of the fact that the teeth are arranged in groups a corresponding series of repeated signals in the shape of dots and dashes will be recorded by the register and indicator at the central station.

t will be understood that the operating parts of the device are inclosed in a suitable housing, the same being positioned on plate 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A device of my improved construction is comparatively simple, is entirely automatic in operation, transmits to the central station a signal to show that the operatingspring is properly wound and that the device is set for use, and likewise transmits to the central station repeated signals to show that one or more of the sprinkler heads of the system which is controlled by the device are open.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit ofmy invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. The combination with a sprinkler system and an electric circuit including an indicator, of a chamber in communication with the system, a diaphragm in said chamber,

which diaphragm is normally under pressure of the water in the system, a normally wound clock-work, means acted upon by the diaphragm for normally holding the clockwork against movement, means adapted to be actuated by the clock-work for transmitting signals through the circuit, and means cooperating with the clock-work and actuated by the winding movement imparted to the spring of said clock-work for effecting a limited movement of the signal transmitting means.

2. The combination with a sprinkler system and an electric circuit including an indicator, of a chamber in communication with the system, a diaphragm in said chamber, which diaphragm is normally under the pressure of the water in the system, a normally wound clock-work, a weighted lever which is directly acted upon by the diaphragm, a second lever coiiperatin g with the first lever and engaging a portion of the clock-work to normally hold the same against operation,means adapteo to be operated by the clock-work for transmitting signals through the circuit, and means cooperating with the clock-work and actuated by the winding movement imparted to the spring of said clock-work for effecting a limited movement of the signal transmitting means.

3. The combination with a sprinkler sys tem and an electric circuit including an indicator, of a chamber in comn'iunication with the system, a diaphragm in said chamber, which diaphragm is normally under pressure of the water in the system, a normally wound clock-work, means acted upon by the diaphragm. for normally holding the clockwork against movement, means adapted to be operated by the clock-work for transmitting a series of repeated signals through the circuit, and means arranged to operate automatically when the spring of the clock-Work is wound and the device is set for use for effecting an operation of the signal transmitting means to transmit a single signal.

4. The combination with a sprinkler system and an electric circuit including an indicator, of a chamber in communication with the system, a diaphragm in said chamber, which diaphragm is normallyunder pressure of the water in the system, a normally wound clock-work, means acted upon by the diaphragm for normally holding the clock-work against movement, which means includes a weighted lever. means cooperating with and adapted to be automatically actuated by'the clock-work for transmitting through the circuit a single signal when the spring forming a part of the clock-work has been completely wound, means for automatically stopping the clock-work after the transmission of the single signal, and means whereby the signal producing means is operated to produce a series of repeated signals when the pressure of the water in the system is removed from the diaphragm.

5. The combination with a sprinkler sys tem and an electric circuit including an indicator, of a diapl'iragm which is acted upon by the pressure of thewater in the system, a pin carried by said diaphragm, a segmental ring positioned on the side of the diaphragm opposite the side which receives the water pressure, said segmental ring cooperating with the pin carried by the diaphragm, a train of spring-driven gearing, means adapted to be operated thereby for transmitting signals through the circuit, and means engaged by the pin on the diaphragm for normally holding the train of gearing against movement.

6. The combination with a sprinkler system and signaling means, of a diaphragm which is acted upon by the pressure of the water in the system, a pin carried by said diaphragm, a weighted lever engaged bysaid pin and cooperating with parts of the signaling means, and a segmental bearing ring positioned on the side of the diaphragm opposite to the side which is engaged by the water pressure, which ring cooperates with said pin.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a normally wound clock-work, means adapted to be actuated thereby for producing signals in an electric circuit, automatically operating means cooperating with the clockwork and signal producing means, for transmitting a single warning signal through the circuit when the clock-work is wound and the device set for use, a member for normally holding the clock-work against operation, a member subject to the pressure of "Water in the system with which the device is associated, and means controlled by'said member for engaging a portion of the clockwork to normally hold the same against movement.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a normally wound clock-work, means adapted to be actuated thereby for producing sig nals 111 an electric circuit, a member for nor mally holding the clock-work against oper-' a release of the clock holding means to permit the clockwork to operate for a predetermined period of time immediately after the spring of the clock-work has been completely wound.

9. The combination with a sprinkler system and an electric circuit having an indicator, of a diaphragm movable under Variations of the pressure of the water in the system, a normally wound signal transmitter cooperating with the electric circuit, means controlled by the diaphragm for normally holding the transmitting means against operation, and automatically operating means cooperating ,with the signal transmitter for effecting a temporary release of the holding means to permit a partial operation of the transmitting means to pro duce a warning signal through the circuit when said transmitting means is set for use.

10. The combination with a sprinkler system and a circuit provided with an indicator, of a spring-driven signaling device cooperating with the circuit, means controlled by-the pressure or" the water in the system for normally holding the springdriven means against operation, and means adapted to release the holding means to permit a partial operation of the signaling means to produce a warning signal through the circuit when said signaling means is properly set for use. p

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 28th day. of January, 1915.

CHARLES E. POTTER.

Witnesses:

li i. P. SMITH, M. A. HANDEL.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

